Sonoma County deputy kills kidnapping suspect on Thursday night after report to San Rafael police

GUERNEVILLE — Acting on a victim's plea for help in a text message relayed by San Rafael police, a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a kidnapping suspect after he led them on a chase with the victim in the car.

The shooting at 11:22 p.m. Thursday in the Guerneville area came about 30 minutes after Sonoma sheriff's dispatchers were alerted to an apparent kidnapping by San Rafael police.

A friend of the female victim received text messages from her about the kidnapping and contacted San Rafael authorities. San Rafael police on Friday referred all questions about the matter to Sonoma officials.

Sonoma deputies spotted the suspect's vehicle, but he fled when they tried to stop him.

Sheriff's officials say the suspect, who has not been identified, evaded spike strips twice before crashing. Deputies then helped the victim escape unharmed.

A deputy shot the suspect while trying to arrest him. Authorities did not explain what prompted the shooting.